HORT INNOVATION is calling for businesses in all levels of the production and supply chain to participate in a new program which aims to strengthen the industry by attracting the next generation of employees.

Under the program, businesses will be linked with the nation’s leading final-year university students from a range of disciplines ranging from engineering to commerce, marketing and agriculture.

Selected students will undertake an internship with the host business, working on a horticulture-focused project that meets the needs of the host business and the student’s degree requirements.

After the completion of the project, and the student’s associated degree, host businesses will get the opportunity to employ the graduate with funding support from Hort Innovation Australia for the first year.

Hort Innovation Chief Executive John Lloyd said the program gives employers access to top-performing students who have a passion for horticulture and a desire to live and work in rural areas.

“This $3.9 million co-investment initiative will primarily utilise funds from external sources, and will be delivered over five years," he said.

"It will provide Australia’s horticulture growers and associated business operators a rare opportunity to tap into some of the nation’s brightest minds while gaining new resources for their operations."

During this first year, the cohort of selected graduates will come together for a five-day face-to-face leadership program to be delivered by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation.

Managed by Rimfire Resources, the student recruitment process will be made easy through a dedicated online resource which will allow interested businesses to view all applications – including online video presentations – via a user-friendly portal.

For more details, phone Mick Hay on 0418 804 600 or Nigel Crawley on 0419 320 474.